Napkin holder and folder.



L, L. LAYNE.

NAPKIN HOLDER AND FOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29,1916.

Patented July 17, 1917..

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LEROYL. LAYNE, OF WHIT'IIER, CALIFORNIA.

nnrKm nonnnn AND FOLDER.

Application filed February 29, 1916.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LEROY L. LAYNE, a citizen tier, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Napkin Holders and Folders, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to devices for holding a napkin, or the like; and it is a particular object of'this invention'to provide a de vice which will not only hold the napkin in position for use, but which will also hold the napkin when folded 5' and it is a further object of this invention to provide a simple and effective device which is sightly' in appearance and maybe inexpensively manufactured. i

The further objects of this invention, and the details of a preferredform of device embodying my invention are explained in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which, for the purpose of this specification, I have illustrated a preferredform of device embodying l my invention; and in which drawings Figure 1 is a view showing the device holding the napkin folded, Fig. 2 is a view showing the device holding the napkin unfolded, Fig. 3 is a section taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a detailed section showing the construction of the clasp which engages and holds the napkin, and Fig. 5 illustrates the use of my device.

In the drawing I have illustrated a continuous flexible wire frame comprisingthe horizontal portion 10 and two vertical portions 11 at the ends of the horizontal por tion. The horizontal portion has within its ends two spiral spring coils 12; and the clasps- 13 are hung upon the horizontal portion of the frame between these coils 12 and the vertical portions 11. The clasps 13 are preferably constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4. There'are two members 14 which are pivotally mounted opposite to each other upon the wire 10, by means of the ears 15 ing from the members, through which ears the wire 10 passes. These members 14 are preferably and may be ornamentedin any desired manner( The apertures through the ears are preferably larger than the wire so that the clasp is free to move uponthe wire. Means are preferably employed to hold the clasp Specification of Letters Patent.

of the United States, residing at Whitpivotally and loosely projectswell topped rather than flat Patented July at, 1am.

Serial No. 81,171.

members together independently of the ears 15. This means comprises a small hook 16 onone of the members and a loop 17 on the other, the hook engaging in the loop as is best shown in Fig. 3. This means prevents the two members 14 from being forced apart by the action of the spring between the members, and thereby provides that there shall be no excessive friction where the members are mounted upon the wire 10, and insures that the clasp will always easily turn on the wire. The spring is made of a single Wire in two parts 18, one part on each side of the loop 17; and a central loop 19.is formed in the wire of the springto press against the inner concaved side of one of the members 14, while the ends of the wire of the spring are brought together as shown at 20 to presscentrally against. the other member 14. .The. action. of this spring is to close the jaw ends of'the members 14 together.. The spring being balanced. in construction, as explained, there is no tendency for it to twist and bind upon the wire 10.; thus again avoiding friction. on the wire 10.

The edge of a napkin 30 is engaged by the clasps 13, as shown in the various views. When the napkin is in use it hangs from these clasps in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The device is supported upon the person in the manner now explained. At the upper ends of the vertical portions 11 I provide hinges 31, which hinges are supplied with stop shoulders 32 to prevent their being opened beyond a straight line. Flexible curvedextension members 33 are mounted upon these hinges; and when these extension members are unfolded to the position shown in Fig. 5 they are adapted to fit over the persons shoulders and around the neck. The napkin is thus supported in proper position. The whole frame being resilient, (especially through the action of the coils 12) the extensions 33 may easily springapart to be placed in position. The wire 10 between the two coils 12 lies in front of these coils, and may be straight or curved to more or less conform to the users apparel. Fig.2 shows a rear view of the device, that is, a view of the device seen by the user just as he is aboutto putit on. It will be noted that the napkin now hangs down from the clasp 13, throwing the clasps around to a position opposite to that assumed in Fig. 1. When it is desired to fold the napkin, the device is placed back face Fig. 1 (it being remembered that Fig. 1 is a view of what isthen the bottom of the arrangement); The extensions 33 are then folded in toward and past each other and one of the extensions is sprung over to the top side of the bundle while the other is passed under the lower side. The hinges 31 are, stiff in all directions except that they turn in the plane of. the frame itself; so that there is a resilient resistance to the lateral displacement of the extension 33; and when the extensions are in place as shown in Figs. 1 and '3, then they resiliently press against opposite sides of the folded napkin to hold the napkin in its folded condition. The napkin is thus held in a neat folded bundle while not in use; and it is from this function, together with that of holding the napkin for use, that my device derives its name of napkin holder and folder.

From the foregoing'it will be seen that I have provided a neat, simple and'inexpensive device for efficiently holding a napkin either in position for use or folded. My device is capable of universal application and use; and it may be manufactured in many grades and styles to suit difierent classes of users. It is sanitary, in that each napkin is folded individually and neatly, and the holder and folder gives opportunity for identification by identification marks upon it, such as the owners initials. And, among other advantages of my device, I may finally mention the fact that the double function of my device as holder and folder provides a definite use and place for it between times of use of the napkin, obviating entirely'the usually troublesome question of what to do with a napkin holder when not actually in use holding the napkin in front of the user.

Having described the preferred form of my invention, I claim: 15A napkin holder andfolder, embody mg a resilient wire frame comprising a horizontal portion and two vertical portions at the, ends of the horizontal portion, a pair of spring clasps liungon the horizontal portion near its ends to engage and hold a napkin, and spring extension members pivoted at the upper ends'of said vertical portions to swing inwardly toward and past each other, there being stop shouldersto prevent said extensions being swung outwardly past the lines of said vertical portions. p

2. A napkin holder and folder, embodying a resilient wire frame comprising ahorizontal portion and two vertical portions at the ends of the horlzontal portion; flexible extension members foldably mounted at the upper ends of the vertical portions, said members adapted to engage a person to support the frame and napkin for use and adapted when folded to press against opposite sides of a folded napkin; a pair of spring clasps hung on the horizontal portion near its ends'to engage and hold a napkin said clasps each including a pair of relatively movable members hung oppositely pivotally on the horizontal portion of the frame, and a spring between and pressing against said members to normally press their ends together.

3. A napkin holder and folder, embodying a resilient wire frame comprising ahorizontal portion and two vertical portions at the ends of the horizontalportion; flexible extension members foldably mounted at the upper ends of the vertical portions, said members adapted to engage a person to support the frame and napkin for use and adapted when folded to press against opposite sides of a folded napkin; a pair of spring clasps hung on the horizontal portion near its ends to engage and hold a napkin said clasps including a pair of relatively movable members hung oppositely pivotally on the horizontal portion of the frame, means embodying a hook and loop on said members for holding said members together independently of their mounting on the frame, and a spring between and pressing against said members to normally press their ends together.

4. A napkin holder and folder, embodying a resilient wire frame comprising a horizontal portion having spiral spring coils near its ends and two vertical portions at the ends of the horizontal portion, a pair of spring clasps loosely hung on the horizontal portion between the spiral spring coils and the vertical portions to engage and hold the edge of a napkin, said clasps each including a pair of relatively movable members hung oppositely pivotally on the horizontal portion of the frame, means embodying a hook and loop on said members for holding said members together independently of their mounting on the frame, and a spring between and pressing against said members to normally press their ends together, hinges at the upper ends of the vertical portions, the axes of said hinges being horizontal at right angles to said horizontal frame portion and said hinges having stop shoulders preventing them from being thrown farther outwardly from each other than positions on a line with the vertical portions, and re silient curved extensions mounted upon said hinges, said extensions adapted to engage a person to support the frame and the napkin in position for use and adapted to be folded inwardly toward and past each other and to be sprung slightly laterally out of the plane of the frame to press against opposite sides of the folded napkin.

5. A napkin holder and folder, embodying a resilient Wire frame comprising a horizontal portion and two vertical portions at the ends of the horizontal portion, means on the horizontal portions to engagevand hold a napkin, and spring extension members pivoted at the upper ends of said vertical portions to swing inwardly toward and past each other, there being stop shoulders to prevent said extensions being swung out- Wardly past the lines of said vertical portions.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of February, 1916.

LEROY L. LAYNE.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washingtomb. G. 

